Drug Channels

APRIL 9, 2025

It's time for Drug Channels annual update of vertical integration among insurers, PBMs, specialty pharmacies, and healthcare services within U.S. drug channels. As you can see below, we have revised, renovated, and refurbished our infamous illustration of the major vertical business relationships among the largest companies.

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Drug Channels

OCTOBER 12, 2021

specialty pharmacies—via white, brown, and clear bagging—continue to displace buy-and-bill distribution channels for provider-administered oncology drugs. The battle for the specialty patient pits hospitals against insurers—and their respective specialty pharmacies. Coming out of the pandemic (maybe?),

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Drug Channels

APRIL 12, 2023

For 2022, pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and insurers expanded their dominance over specialty dispensing, though both hospitals and physician practices are growing their share of the market. The top three PBM-owned specialty pharmacies accounted for nearly two-thirds of prescription revenues from pharmacy-dispensed specialty drugs.

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Drug Channels

MAY 3, 2022

Significant volume will shift to the larger players, as Centene plots its exit, Walgreens’ specialty pharmacy business collapses, and manufacturers’ 340B contract pharmacy restrictions continue. This week, I’m attending Asembia’s Specialty Pharmacy Summit. But as I explain below, 2022 will be a year of transition.

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Drug Channels

APRIL 16, 2024

Drug Channels Institute’s (DCI’s) latest analysis finds that participants in the specialty pharmacy market continue to get more diverse—although revenues remain highly concentrated. Read on for DCI’s latest overview of the 2023 marketplace and revenues of the biggest market participants, along with key specialty pharmacy trends.

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Drug Channels

MAY 10, 2023

Yesterday’s reflections on Asembia’s Specialty Pharmacy Summit included a link to the general session slides. My portion of the deck included an updated mapping of vertical integration among insurers, PBMs, specialty pharmacies, and providers within U.S. drug channels.

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Drug Channels

MAY 17, 2022

Two weeks ago, Paula and I had the pleasure of attending Asembia’s 2022 Specialty Pharmacy Summit at the wonderful Wynn Las Vegas. I offer reflections on my keynote session with Scott Gottlieb, share my experiences during the featured session, and highlight three crucial specialty industry trends.

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Drug Channels

JULY 27, 2022

Significant volume will shift to the larger players, as Centene plots its exit, Walgreens’ specialty pharmacy business collapses, and manufacturers’ 340B contract pharmacy restrictions continue. This week, I’m attending Asembia’s Specialty Pharmacy Summit. But as I explain below, 2022 will be a year of transition.

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Drug Channels

OCTOBER 13, 2022

The other is my mapping of the insurer/PBM/specialty pharmacy/provider organizations that now dominate U.S. One is my chart showing the key channel flows within the entire U.S. pharmaceutical distribution, payment, and reimbursement system. drug channels.

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Drug Channels

MAY 9, 2022

Informa Connect’s Hub and Specialty Pharmacy Models East. June 28-30, 2022 | Sheraton Parsippany | Parsippany, NJ www.informaconnect.com/hub-specialty-pharmacy. For 2022 only, Hub and Specialty Pharmacy Models and PAP – Patient Assistance & Access Programs are under the same roof.

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Drug Channels

MAY 7, 2024

It's time for Drug Channels ’ annual update of vertical integration among insurers, PBMs, specialty pharmacies, and providers within U.S. drug channels. These organizations continue to exert greater control over patient access, sites of care/dispensing, and pricing, although some have started to unwind their vertical efforts.

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Drug Channels

JUNE 19, 2025

It's time for Drug Channels ’ annual update of vertical integration among insurers, PBMs, specialty pharmacies, and healthcare services within U.S. I’ll be joined by special guest Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46brooklyn Research, and President of 3 Axis Advisors. Click here to see the original post from April 2025. drug channels.

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Drug Channels

MARCH 14, 2022

Asembia’s Specialty Pharmacy Summit 2022. Asembia's Specialty Pharmacy Summit 2022 is back! This is a must-attend event for anyone connected to specialty pharmacy. Plus, Doug Long from IQVIA and I will again lead the Featured Session, titled The Specialty Pharmacy Industry Update and Outlook.

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Drug Channels

OCTOBER 15, 2021

Jayne discusses changes in the life science and specialty pharmacy industries since the COVID-19 pandemic began. She highlights three key trends that pharma companies, plan sponsors, and others will consider as we head to the upcoming Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit (October 26 to 29 in Las Vegas).

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Drug Channels

JUNE 16, 2025

For 2024, DCI estimates that total prescription dispensing revenues at retail, mail, long-term care, and specialty pharmacies reached $683 billion, up 9% from the 2023 figure. It’s the 16th edition of our popular and comprehensive examination of the entire U.S. drug pricing, reimbursement, and dispensing system.

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Drug Channels

APRIL 16, 2025

Drug Channels Institutes (DCIs) latest analysis reveals that PBM-affiliated specialty pharmacies continue to dominate the dispensing of specialty drugs. DCI has identified nearly 1,900 dispensing locations with specialty pharmacy accreditation.

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Drug Channels

AUGUST 18, 2020

Hospitals and health systems are building a major presence in the specialty pharmacy industry. As we demonstrate below, nine out of ten large hospitals now operate a specialty pharmacy. accredited specialty pharmacies. Hospitals and other healthcare providers account for one-third of all U.S.

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Drug Channels

APRIL 24, 2024

Last week, we documented the substantial concentration of dispensing revenues for specialty drugs. See The Top 15 Specialty Pharmacies of 2023: Market Shares and Revenues at the Biggest PBMs, Health Plans, and Independents. Today, we examine how manufacturers’ specialty networks contribute to this concentration.

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Drug Channels

JUNE 18, 2024

Last week, we documented the substantial concentration of dispensing revenues for specialty drugs. See The Top 15 Specialty Pharmacies of 2023: Market Shares and Revenues at the Biggest PBMs, Health Plans, and Independents. Today, we examine how manufacturers’ specialty networks contribute to this concentration.

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Drug Channels

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

In this issue: The State of Specialty Pharmacy 2021 How health plans profit—and patients lose—from insulin A fantastic new analysis of the gross-to-net bubble Reconsidering Amazon P.S. Please join the nearly 13,000 consumers of my daily commentary and links to neat stuff at @DrugChannels on Twitter. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Drug Channels

APRIL 4, 2024

For updated data on hospital-owned specialty pharmacies, see Chapter 3 of DCI's new 2024 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers. As many of you know, hospitals and health systems have emerged as significant participants in the specialty pharmacy industry.

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Drug Channels

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

In this issue: The State of Specialty Pharmacy 2021 How health plans profit—and patients lose—from insulin A fantastic new analysis of the gross-to-net bubble CVS acknowledges how its PBM profits from 340B Reconsidering Amazon P.S. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Drug Channels

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021

In Drug Channels Institute's list of the top 15 pharmacies of 2020 , we show that many of the largest U.S. market participants are now central-fill mail and specialty pharmacies operated by PBMs and insurers. Prime Therapeutics recently alleged that Walgreens is competing against the companies' joint venture.

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Drug Channels

MAY 18, 2021

specialty pharmacies. As you will note below, the specialty pharmacy industry remains quite diverse— despite the concentration of dispensing revenues within a small number of companies. It’s time for Drug Channels Institute’s annual update of the number of U.S. Fortunately, I had outstanding research assistance.

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Drug Channels

JUNE 7, 2021

National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) 2021 Annual Meeting & Expo. The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) returns to Washington, D.C. on September 27-30 for the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) 2021 Annual Meeting & Expo.

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Drug Channels

JULY 21, 2020

Below, we update our exclusive analysis of the biggest specialty pharmacies within 340B. The four largest specialty pharmacies are owned by CVS Health, Cigna’s Express Scripts business, UnitedHealth Group’s OptumRx business, and Walgreens Boots Alliance/Prime Therapeutics.

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Drug Channels

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

In May, I recorded a brief video webinar for an on-demand business education session at Asembia's 2020 Specialty Pharmacy Summit Virtual Experience. You can watch the full video below.

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Drug Channels

APRIL 23, 2025

Last week, we examined the growing concentration of specialty drug dispensing revenues among the largest pharmacies. See The Top 15 Specialty Pharmacies of 2024: How PBMs, Health Systems, and Independents Are Shaping the Market. Today, we dive deeper. Drawing from DCIs new 2025 Economic Report on U.S.

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Drug Channels

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020

Will COVID-19 trigger long-term share gains for specialty pharmacies as suppliers to hospitals and physician offices? Before the pandemic, specialty pharmacies—via white, brown, and clear bagging—had already displaced buy-and-bill distribution channels for a substantial chunk of provider-administered specialty drugs.

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Drug Channels

MAY 14, 2020

In this clip, I highlight the growth and consolidation dynamics facing the specialty pharmacy industry. I also discuss the competitive challenges facing smaller pharmacies. So below, you'll find another brief video excerpt from my May 1 Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact video webinar.

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Drug Channels

JULY 9, 2020

In Drug Channels Institute's list of the top 15 pharmacies of 2019 , we show that many of the largest U.S. pharmacies are now central-fill mail and specialty pharmacies operated by PBMs and insurers. I see upside for specialty pharmacies in the aftermath of the pandemic. d/b/a Drug Channels Institute.

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Drug Channels

NOVEMBER 22, 2021

In this issue: The State of Specialty Pharmacy 2021 How health plans profit—and patients lose—from insulin A fantastic new analysis of the gross-to-net bubble CVS acknowledges how its PBM profits from 340B Reconsidering Amazon Plus, the FDA preps you for Thursday with a regulatory soup review. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Drug Channels

DECEMBER 18, 2020

Will COVID-19 trigger long-term share gains for specialty pharmacies as suppliers to hospitals and physician offices? Before the pandemic, specialty pharmacies—via white, brown, and clear bagging—had already displaced buy-and-bill distribution channels for a substantial chunk of provider-administered specialty drugs.

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Drug Channels

APRIL 15, 2022

Today’s guest post comes from Megan Marchal, Director of Specialty Pharmacy Strategy at CoverMyMeds. Megan discusses the access and affordability challenges faced by specialty therapy patients. Click here to sign up for CoverMyMeds’ Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit recaps. Read on for Megan’s insights.

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Drug Channels

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

The battle for control of the specialty patient continues. In 2022, specialty pharmacies—via white, brown, and clear bagging—now constitute a meaningful share of the distribution channels for provider-administered oncology drugs. However, buy-and-bill appears to have rebounded substantially at hospitals.

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Drug Channels

JUNE 18, 2024

However, Walgreens disclosed that it also generates about $16 billion in specialty revenues from its retail pharmacies and nearly 300 community-based specialty pharmacy locations. See Walgreens Launches Gene and Cell Services as Part of Newly Integrated Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy Business.

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Drug Channels

FEBRUARY 14, 2023

This Valentine's Day, what could be more romantic than a deep dive into the relationships between manufacturers of specialty drugs and the pharmacies they choose for their limited and exclusive specialty pharmacy networks. As you’ll see, a typical network contains only five specialty pharmacies.

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